Peephole for doors



Dec. 20, 1949 A. NICHOLS ETAL PEEPHOLE FOR DOORS Filed Spt. 1'7, 1947 INVENTORS .Hbe Nichols Joseph Specfior Ma ma.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 19 49 UNITED*"s'rA ES PATENT T Abe Nichols and Joseph Spector, Los Angeles, Calif.

1 I Application September 17, 1947,.Serial 174,470

This invention relates to a peep hole for doors.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device which is mounted in an opening in a door for inspecting from the interior of a room, a person desirous of entering or attempting to enter the room or home, said device being so fitted in the door that it will not be recognized by the person.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which is mounted in an opening in a door as a protective means for the occupants of a home in that an occupant may inspect a person desirous of entering the home without arousing the suspicions of said person, said device having a universal movement so that it is possible to have a wide range of vision.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which is mounted in a suitable opening in a door for inspecting a person, desirous of entering a home, said device being mounted for universal movement in a frame fixed in said opening so that a wide range of vision will be provided, said frame and the mounting including a felt ring which will cushion the tube during universal movement of the device, said tube including vertically disposed spaced lenses for defining more definitely the features of the person.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal side view of the observation device, partly in section, showing the device installed.

Figure 2 is a rear end view in elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device detached from the door.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of an inner disk forming part of the supporting means.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, l designates a tube having a truncated .portion ll connecting a cylindrical member I2 with a cylindrical portion l3. The eye-piece in the form of a single convex lens 14 is mounted in the member l2, while a double concave or object lens I5 i' mounted at the front end of the cylindrical portion I3. A cap l6 closes substantially the rear end of the tube except for a central passage V A circular disk 20 forming the main support of the tubular member H] is provided at the inner face thereof two or more internally threaded hollow bosses 2| which are welded to the disk. The ppen ends of said bosses face rearwardly to re- 1 Claim. (01. ss u l 2 ceive threaded bolts 22 inserted through perforations 22a in a circular plate 23 in contact with the inner face of a door 24 in which a transverse passage is formed to receive the device. When the bolts 22 are tightened, the disk 20 and the plate 23 will be drawn up tight against the outer and inner faces of the door. A ring 23a secured to the inner face of the plate 23 at the periphery of a central opening 230 embraces the tube III.

A finishing plate 25 is in fiat contact with the outer face of the disk 20. The peripheral edge of the plate is swaged over the periphery of the disk to provide a circular flange 2B which engages the inner face of the disk for securing the plate to said disk. The plate 25 has a central circular opening 21 corresponding in diameter to the diameter of the central circular opening 28 in the disk 20. These aligned openings expose the lens IE to the exterior of the room.

A circular member 30 is received by the cylindrical portion l3 of the tube l0 and is secured thereto by screws or bolts 3|. The outer face 32 of the member 30 is curved transversely along an arc to form substantially a ball which is received by a socket formed by the peripheries of the openings 21 and 28 respectively in the plate 25 and the disk 20. A felt ring 35 is seated in an annular pocket formed by a rearwardly projecting collar 36 and a flange 31 contributes in the formation of the socket. The outer edge of said collar is welded or soldered to the inner face of the disk 20. The flange 31 may be formed integrally with the rear edge of the collar or it may be made separately and secured to said collar. The inner peripheral edge of the flange 31 is in contact with the curved surface 32 of the member 30 and cooperates with the circular edges of the openings 21 and 28 for retaining the ball 30 in place.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is as follows: When a stranger or guest rings the door bell or is heard approaching an entrance to a home or an apartment, the party may be inspected carefully with the device by rocking the tube I0 through various angles while an eye of an occupant of the abode has been applied to the opening [1 in the cap IS. The oscillation of the tube will permit the occupant to observe carefully the features of a tall or short person. However, the occupant may make such observation without causing the party at the exterior of the door to become suspicious.

We claim:

A peep hole for observing persons approaching an entrance to an abode comprising a frame adapted to be set in a transverse passage in a door and having a central opening, an annular collar on said frame having a flange the peripheral edge of which is aligned with the opening in said frame, said collar and flange forming a socket, a felt packing in said socket, a ball member of a diameter to seat in said felt packing, the ball having an axial passage therethrough, a tube extended through thev passage of the ball and fixed therein, thetube being of a length to extend through the door, a plate on the inner face of the door having an opening to receive the tube therethrough, said opening being of a diameter greater than the tube to permit oscillatory movement of the ball and tube, bolt means connecting said frame and Plate together, and said tube 16 Number having a lens means in respective ends thereof.

ABE NICHOLS. JOSEPH SPECTOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 878,245 Shackley Feb, 4, 1908 1,429,981 Taylor et a1 Sept. 26, 1922 1,461,487 Laibach July 10, 1923 1,499,018 Hertel June 24, 1924 1,940,886 Rosenberg Dec. 26, 1933 2,147,089 Catasta Feb. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 686,007 France 1 April 7, 1930 

